making money in college

Let's face it: college student = broke. From paying for food to paying for books, college students have several expenses that add up very quickly, and without extra income, it can be very hard to get by. Here are some suggestions for making extra money while still going to school.

Get a job on campus. This would be the most convenient choice for you as a college student because you could go to class and then be at work within five minutes. Since most jobs on campus give students very flexible hours, you could even work an hour or two between classes. There is an abundance of jobs to choose from on college campuses. You could be a research assistant for one of your professors. You could swipe student IDs in the computer lab. You could work in dining services. You could work at the campus library. You could even try to get a job within your major to get "real world" experience. For example, a journalism major could work on the school newspaper. Talk to professors and other students to see what jobs might be available on your campus.

Get a work-study job if eligible. The Federal Work-Study Program offers jobs to eligible Federal financial aid recipients. If you apply for and are awarded with Federal financial aid, your award notifications will identify whether or not you are eligible for work-study and the number of hours you will be allowed to work. If you are eligible, you can then go to your financial aid office and apply for available work-study jobs. These jobs can either be on campus or off campus and are usually at a non-profit organization or public agency. These organizations generally let students work very flexible hours.

Get a job that includes tips. Jobs with wages plus tips pay the best. So, if you are looking to earn a lot of money while in college, consider being a waiter or waitress at a local restaurant. Just keep in mind that these job hours may not be as flexible as a job on campus or a work-study job.

Advertise your services. Are you good at editing papers or tutoring other students? Can you teach others how to play the guitar or piano? Can you write code for startup websites? Why not get paid for your talents? Put up posters around campus or use social media outlets to promote your services. In your advertisements, include the service you are offering, the cost of the service, and your contact information.

Sell your plasma. You can help others while making money at the same time. The amount of money you make donating plasma varies depending on how much you weigh. If you weigh more, you can donate more and thus make more money. Most donation centers allow you to come in twice a week to donate. If you are interested, please contact your local plasma donation center to find out more information.

No matter what route you take to make more money, try to find one that doesn't interfere too much with your schoolwork. If you are having trouble finding the time to go to class or do your homework, try cutting back on your hours at work.